7min

How to Upload Videos to GitHub (And Why Uploads Often Fail) – Complete Guide 2025

A practical, up-to-date guide explaining how to upload videos to GitHub, why uploads often fail, and how videos can be displayed inside Issues, Pull Requests, repositories, and README files using GitHub-approved methods and workarounds.

Uploading videos to GitHub can be frustrating. Although GitHub technically allows video files, the platform has strict limitations on file size, supported formats, and where videos can appear. Many developers run into repeated errors such as:

“File upload failed”
“Something went wrong”
“Unsupported file type”
“Video does not render”

This guide explains:

What types of video uploads GitHub accepts
How to upload a video through Issues, PRs, and the repo interface
Why uploads fail
How to show videos inside README files
What GitHub does not support

This is the latest and most complete guide as of 2025.

📌 Can You Upload Videos to GitHub?

Yes, GitHub allows video uploads – but only in certain contexts and only under strict conditions.

GitHub supports the following video formats:

MP4
WebM
MOV (sometimes, depending on codec)

However, the platform enforces size limits and disables video playback in some areas, such as README files.

📏 GitHub Video Upload Limits

Video uploads are only reliable when the file is under roughly 25 MB. Anything larger typically fails with an error message.

When a video exceeds this limit, GitHub may reject it immediately or stall during upload.

For very large video files, GitHub recommends using Git LFS (Large File Storage). LFS supports much larger files, but it does not change how GitHub displays them. Videos stored with Git LFS are still downloadable only – not playable inside Markdown views.

🎥 How to Upload a Video to GitHub Using the UI

GitHub supports video playback inside Issues, Pull Requests, and Discussions. This is the easiest method for adding short videos to conversations.

Steps:

Open a new or existing Issue, PR, or Discussion.
Drag and drop the .mp4 or .webm file into the comment box.
GitHub uploads the video to its servers.
A playable video preview appears directly inside the comment.

This method is ideal for quick demos, bug reproductions, or code reviews.

However, this only works when the video file is small enough. Larger videos will fail to upload or remain stuck in the “Uploading…” state.

📄 How to Upload a Video File to a Repository

You can also upload a video directly into a repository as a tracked file.

To do this:

Navigate to the repo.
Click Add file → Upload files.
Upload your video (must be under the size limit).
Commit the change.

GitHub will store the file in the repository, but the video will not play inside README.md or other Markdown files. Instead, GitHub will display a simple download link.

This method is useful for storing media assets, but not for embedding videos visually in documentation.

🧪 Using Git LFS for Large Videos

Git LFS is GitHub’s solution for large binary files.

It allows uploading video files that are too large for regular repository uploads. But it does not add video playback functionality. Videos stored through LFS also appear as downloadable assets, not inline players.

LFS is helpful when you need version control for video files, but it does not solve the embedding limitations.

❌ What GitHub Does Not Support (2025)

GitHub does not allow:

Inline video playback in README.md

Videos cannot be played directly inside README or other Markdown-rendered views.

HTML <video> tags inside README

These tags are stripped or ignored.

YouTube iframe embeds

GitHub blocks all iframes in Markdown for security reasons.

JavaScript-based video players

Scripts are disabled in Markdown views.

MP4 autoplay

GitHub does not allow autoplaying media inside README files.

Even if you successfully upload a video file, GitHub will not embed or play it inside a README.

✔️ How to Display Video Inside a README

Because native video playback is not supported in READMEs, developers use workarounds.

1. Thumbnail image that links to a video

You display an image preview in the README, and clicking it opens the real video elsewhere.

[![Watch the video](thumbnail-image.png)](video-url)

This method works everywhere on GitHub and is the cleanest option.

2. Animated GIF preview

If you need inline playback, a GIF works because GitHub treats it as an image.

![Preview](demo.gif)

GIFs do not include audio and can become large, but they play automatically inside the README.

3. Attach a video inside an Issue or PR

If the goal is to show a video to collaborators during review:

Drag the video into the comment section
GitHub will host it and play it inline

This method does not work in README.md, but it is perfect for code reviews or bug reports.

4. GitHub Pages

Unlike README files, GitHub Pages allows full HTML. You can embed videos using:

<video controls> <source src="video.mp4" type="video/mp4"> </video>

YouTube iframes, Vimeo embeds, or HTML5 video all work on GitHub Pages – but not inside README.

⚠️ Why Video Uploads Often Fail

These are the most common reasons:

1. File too large

GitHub rejects most videos over ~25MB during UI uploads.

2. Unsupported codecs

Some MOV and mobile-recorded files don’t match GitHub’s supported codecs.

3. Markdown restrictions

Markdown cannot embed videos, so users think the upload is “broken.”

4. Security limitations

GitHub strips iframe embeds, video tags, and scripts.

5. Incorrect upload method

README files cannot host playable videos regardless of upload success.

📝 Summary

Uploading videos to GitHub is possible, but limited:

Small videos can be uploaded in Issues and PRs and will play inline.
Repository uploads work for storing files but not for playback.
Git LFS supports large video files but still only provides downloads.
README.md cannot play video under any circumstances.
To show videos in README, use a thumbnail link or GIF preview.
For real video embedding, GitHub Pages is the only GitHub feature that supports full HTML video.